Card-stacking mechanism



Jan. 7, 1969 w. J. EDWARDS 3,420,519

CARD- STACKING MECHANI SM Filed Dec. 25, 1966 Sheet of 4 I/V/u/m J Fan/420$ BY AYYURNEY 1969 w. J. EDWARDS CARDSTACKING MECHANISM Sheet FiLed Dec. 25, 1966 1969 w. J. EDWARDS CARD'STACKING MECHANISM Filed Dec.

Sheet 3333 35: 11233311 255:;gg n g i 5:sa s:2232222252 7 Jan. 7, 1969 w. J. EDWARDS 3,420,519

CARD- STACKING MECHANI SM Filed Dec. 23, 1966 Sheet 4 of 4 United States Patent 3,420,519 CARD-STACKING MECHANISM William J. Edwards, Phoenix, Ariz., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 604,445 US. Cl. 27168 Int. Cl. B65h 29/68 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to apparatus for reading coded information and more particularly to an improved card stacking mechanism. for a data processing machine in which cards are collected after passing through an interrogating structure.

In order to handle large masses of data, automatic data processing systems of both mechanical and electrical types have been used. In many of such systems, information is stored on tabulating cards in the form of specially located punched marks. In order to utilize this information, the cards are passed through an interrogating structure such as a card reader wherein the information is read. This information may be processed in many different ways depending on the characteristics of the particular data processing system being utilized.

In the processing of such data, and particularly where large numbers of punched cards are being interrogated in a relatively short time interval, suitable means must be provided for collecting the cards. Since the card collecting means must accumulate these cards without damaging or shuffling them, problems have 'arisen in designing a suitable card stacker. It has been found, however, that card stackers utilizing gravity to collect the cards provide the most desirable results permitting bowed or warped cards to be collected without jamming the system.

It is therefore one object of this invention to provide an improved card stacking apparatus which handles large numbers of punched cards within a relatively short time interval without damaging or shuflling of the cards.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved card stacking apparatus which utilizes gravity to collect the punched cards.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved card' stacker apparatus which will readily collect and stack bowed and warped punched cards.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a card stacker apparatus which combines all of the abovementioned features into a simple economically produced assembly.

Further, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.

Briefly, in one embodiment of the present invention, a bowing means is provided for curving a punched card about its longitudinal axis in order to give it added rigidity before it reaches the card collecting means. En-

"ice

route to the card collecting means, and while still under the influence of the bowing means, the upper surface of the card engages a resilient member and due to the increased rigidity of the card temporarily pushes the resilient member away from the card. At the moment in time that the card leaves the bowing means, it loses its added rigidity since it is no longer bent about its longitudinal axis. Consequently, the resilient means, which is still adjacent the moving card but no longer influenced by the bent cards, restores itself to its original position thereby driving the card downwardly into the collecting means. By selectively placing the resilient means in a given position adjacent the bowing means, only the trailing portion of the card may be driven downwardly by the resilient means. By driving the trailing end of the card downwardly, the next incoming card to the stacker will be placed on top of and not beneath the previous card, thereby preventing card shuffiing.

As the cards pass into the collector, they fall a short distance under the influence of gravity and accumulate on a pair of rotatable counterweighted gating means which project inwardly from opposite walls of the collecting means. These gating means are so constructed that, upon an accumulation of a predetermined number of cards, in this instance 15 to 25, the weight of the cards rotates the gating means causing the accumulated cards to fall to a lower level of the collector. Here they are easily accessible to an operator for removal therefrom. By providing a two-step collection process of these cards, the present invention precludes damage to cards either from jamming or shufiling.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a card reader constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line 22;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating in full lines in more detail the card transporting mechanism;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial top view of the timing belt shown in FIG. 1 with a punched card positioned adjacent one of the belt tabs;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the timing belt and card arrangement shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line 66;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line 7-7;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line 8--8;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial view of the upper lefthand corner of the stacker structure shown in FIG. 6 showing a punc hed card passing by the card kicker mechanism; and

FIG. 10 illustrates the structure shown in FIG. 9 with the punched card shown in a downstream position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings by characters of reference, FIG. 1 discloses an information processing device such as a serial card reader 10 for processing data from a moving record such as, for example, a plurality of tabulating or opaque punched cards 11. The card reader broadly comprises a gravity feed storage card hopper 12 wherein the punched cards are stacked and individually fed to a card transporting mechanism 13. The card transporting mechanism 13 moves the cards past a card interrogating or reading station 14 Where the data is sensed, to a card collector, receptacle or stacker 15 where the cards are received and stacked after interrogation.

The tabulating or punched cards 11 may comprise a plurality of data columns in which information, in this instance in the form of specially located punched holes, may be contained in one or more positions in each column. One example of such a tabulating card is the Hollerith card commonly used in todays data processing systems. The punched cards are fed one at a time from the storage card hopper 12 by means of a picker knife 16 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Picker knife 16 is provided for delivering the punched cards 11 one at a time from the storage hopper 12 to the card transporting mechanism 13 and comprises a single V- or U-shaped piece of resilient material such as a spring steel cantilever mounted at the end of one of its leg members to base 17 of card reader 10. The other leg member 18 of the picker knife is rotatably attached to a single revolution clutch member 20 for rotation about its axis 21. Rotation of clutch member 20 causes rotation of leg member 18 of picker knife 16 thereby causing a generally linear reciprocal movement of the apex or bight of the picker knife structure.

A knife edge 22 is provided at the outer surface of the bight or apex of picker knife 16 for engaging an end edge of the punched card 11 and driving the card longitudinally of the card reader structure through a throat 23 shown in FIG, 2 to the card transporting mechanism 13. As the picker knife 16 is cantilever mounted to the base of the card reader, pure linear reciprocal movement of the knife edge 22 is impossible; however, the deviation from pure linear reciprocal movement, although small, is advantageous since it ensures that no damage will occur to the remaining cards in the storage hopper because the edge of the picker knife will be moving away from the storage hopper during the latter part of its card driving movement.

When a signal is received by the card reader structure from a control means (not shown) indicating that a card should be read, the free end of the picker knife leg member 18 is rotated from the position shown in FIG. 2 initially to the left a short distance in order for the knife edge 22 to engage the bottompunch card in the storage hopper 12. Further rotation of the free end of the picker knife causes the knife edge 22 to move the right to deliver a card through throat 23 and out of the storage hopper to feed roller 25 of the card transporting mechanism 13.

This stroke of the picker knife is continuously repeated for each signal received from the control means (not shown) requiring a read card operation. On each cycle the card in the lowest position in the storage hopper is moved out of the stack of punched cards after which the remainder of the stack in the gravity feed storage hopper 12 drops down and the process is repeated in this manner for each following card. A weight (not shown) may be placed on top of the card stack to assure that there is always enough pressure to keep the punched cards moving down through the storage hopper and also to press the individual cards fiat so that they mate properly with the knife edge 22 and the exit or throat opening 23. In order to assure that only one punched card is picked up on each cycle, the height of the knife edge 22 is slightly less than the thickness of a standard punched card while the height of the throat opening is between one and two such thicknesses.

Electric motor 27 provides the prime moving force for actuating the picker knife 16 and the card transporting mechanism 13 through a set of drive and driven sprockets 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 interconnected by a plurality of drive belts 36 and 37. More particularly, motor 27 drives sprocket 30 which drives rotatably mounted driven spockets 31 and 32 by means of an interconnecting drive belt 36. As shown in FIG. 3, sprocket 32 is fixedl mounted on shaft 38 for rotation therewith and, upon rotation thereof by drive belt 36, rotates drive sprocket 33 arranged juxtapositioned thereto on shaft 38. Drive sprocket 33 drives driven sprocket 34 by means of the interconnecting drive belt 37. Driven sprocket 34 is mounted on axis 21 of clutch member 20, Upon receipt of a read signal by the card reader, latch 28 is withdrawn from the locking notch 29 in clutch 20 to cause a single revolution of clutch 20 by the driven sprocket 34. This action causes the picker knife 16 to remove one card from the card storage hopper and to move it to the card transporting mechanism 13.

The card transporting mechanism further comprises a plurality of card drive or feed rollers 25, 40, 41 and 42 shown in FIG. 3. Roller 25 is mounted on shaft 38 and is arranged to provide a groove surface at its outer periphery for housing a pair of belts 43, 43'. Each belt is made of suitable material for frictionally engaging and moving the punched cards passing over the roller 25.

Driven sprocket 31 is fixedly mounted on shaft 44. Shaft 44 supports for rotation therewith feed roller 40 and drives this feed roller upon rotation of sprocket 31 by motor 27. Feed rollers 41 and 42 are mounted on shafts 45 and 46, respectively, and are interconnected by drive belts 47, 47'.

As noted from FIG. 3, feed rollers 25, 40, 41 and 42 are spaced longitudinally of the card reader along a given path. Cooperating with each feed roller is a pinch roller rotatably mounted on the frame of the card reader structure. As seen in FIG. 1, pinch rollers 61, 62, 63 and 50 abut the feed rollers 25, 40, 41 and 42 and the drive belts associated therewith so that a punched card passing between the feed and pinch rollers is held in frictional engagement with drive belts 43, 43 and 47, 47' for continuing movement of the card. As a result of the punched card being in engagement with the feed and pinch rollers, the card is transported through the reading station 14 and ultimately to the card colletcor 15.

As seen in FIG. 1, a punched card travels only a short distance from the card hopper 12 before it is interrogated at the reading station 14. Although any suitable interrogating means may be used, a photoelectric system is shown and disclosed. Specifically, the interrogating means may comprise a plurality of spaced photoresistors one for each row in the punched card to be read and one for the timing mechanism. A suitable lamp 48 is disposed in the card reading station 14 and so positioned that the tabulating or punched cards pass between the lamp and the photoresistors when moved by the card transporting mechanism. Lamp 48 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is mounted below the punched cards and photoresistors of the reading station and may be marked by a plate having a narrow slit. The slit and the photoresistors are vertically aligned so that the amount of light and its beam direction are carefully controlled. Discrete electrical signals or synchronizing impulses indicating the presence or absence of a punched hole in each row of the card being read are transferred via external conductors 59 to a data processor where the information read from the punched cards is utilized.

As each punched card passes between the lamp and the various photoresistors, illumination from the lamp passing through punched holes in the card impinges on the photoresistors causing their electrical resistance to decrease. By connecting the photoresistors to suitable electrical circuitry, signals are obtained which are representative of the information recorded on the punched cards.

Since it is necessary for the card reader to know when the reading station of the card reader senses the data on the card and more particularly to know exactly which data column on a tabulating or punched card is being read, a movable signal generating element such as a positively driven timing means is provided. This timing means moves at exactly the same speed as the punched card being interrogated so that it is possible to determine which data column on a punched card is being read.

As shown, the timing means comprises a light responsive endless timing belt 49 which is wrapped about a plurality of guiding members 50', 51 and 52. The guiding member 50 is spring loaded so as to maintain tension on the timing belt 49.

Timing belt 49 is mounted adjacent the lateral edge of the card transporting mechanism and is so arranged on the card reader that it is engaged by the punched card as the card is moved through the card reader by the card transporting mechanism. The timing belt is provided with a plurality of elements such as tabs 54 spacedly arranged along the length of the belt. These tabs may be cut from and formed integrally with the material forming the belt or may be of like or different material fixedly attached to the belt. Each tab is arranged to extend laterally from the surface of the belt and may be bent back against the timing belt so as to form a notch 55 between the tab and the belt. A punched card, upon traveling a short distance through the card reader along the given path by the card transporting mechanism 13, engages in a predetermined position one of the notches 55 on the timing belt 49 and pushes the timing belt along with it as it moves through the card reader structure. FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate how the punched card engages one of the notches formed by a tab and the timing belt.

The timing belt 49 is provided with an elongated timing track 53 having successive light responsive elements spaced in correspondence to the successive recording of data in the card and comprising more particularly a plurality of apertures or holes 56 cut through the belt material immediately downstream of each tab 54. These holes are arranged to extend in a row along the length of the belt, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 and are so arranged that each hole corresponds to a column position on the punched card which abuts against the tab. When they pass a photoresistor in the reading station, timing signals are developed one for each hole in the timing track.

Since each punched card moving through the card reader must overlap a portion of the timing belt 49 in order to drive the belt, two further groups of apertures or holes 57 and 58 are arranged along the length of the timing belt. Groups of holes 57 and 58 are arranged to align with given rows of the punched cards so that any data in the form of punched holes, selectively positioned at the intersections of the matrix of the vertical columns and the two lowest horizontal rows on the punched card, may be interrogated by the card reader and will not be blocked from interrogation by the material of the belt. A belt which overlaps a portion of the card also permits the use of a tab extending across all or a good portion of the width of the timing belt. Thus, the tab of the timing belt overlaps a relatively wide portion of the leading edge of the punched card being read, thereby eliminating or substantially reducing the possibility of damaging the corner of the punched card.

FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate a partial view of the movable timing belt 49 and a standard 80 column, 12 row punched card showing the recorded punched information, represented by rectangular impressions or holes, at the intersections of the various rows and columns. The punched holes in the cards 11 represent binary 1s and the blanks (i.e., no punch impressions) at the intersections of the various rows or columns represent binary s in the logic circuitry used to connect the card reader to a processor (not shown).

As noted from FIGS. 4 and of the drawings, the timing track 53 is preceded by a large rectangular hole which causes light to fall on a given photoresistor in the reading station 14 causing a signal to occur which alerts or starts the timing operation. Each following aperture in the timing belt is downstream a given distance from the data column of the associated punched card being read so that the logic circuitry associated with the reading or interrogation of the data columns of the punched card may be properly correlated and provide in cooperation with the moving record a signal indicative of the position of the record or card being sensed. Thus, it is possible to detect by means of the timing signal which data column is being interrogated at any time during the reading of a punched card as long as no error exists between the timing belt 49 and the punched card 11.

To ensure that no error exists, the distance from each of the tabs 54 on the timing belt 49 to the first aperture in the timing track is made precisely a given distance correlated with the distance from the leading edge of a punched card to the first data column on the card. Thus, there is a subsequent aperture 56 in the timing track 53 that is correspondingly spaced with each succeeding data column in the punched card being read. Since the photoelectric interrogating means in the reading station which reads the timing track 53 is aligned or correlated with the photoresistors which read the data columns, information contained in the first data column is simultaneously read with the first signal generated by the timing track and, as the belt and punched card proceeds through the card reader, each subsequent data column is read and synchronized with each subsequent timing signal generated by the timing track of the timing belt.

The timing belt 49 is made of low mass material requiring very little force to accelerate and continue its movement while still being of suitable strength and durability to withstand thousands of starting and stopping operations. In this instance, an aluminum belt coated with Mylar (a polyster film made from polyethylene terephthalate and produced by the du Pont de Nemours Company) has been used to provide the desired operating characteristics. However, it is not the intention of this disclosure to be limited by the composition of the belt since any material may be used that exhibits the qualities of low mass, strength and durability.

The engagement of the punched card with the tab 54 of timing belt 49 occurs before the data columns on the .punched card arrive at the reading station 14 and remains in contact with the tab until after the last data column on the punched card has been interrogated. In order to facilitate contact between the punched cards and the timing belt, the distance between tabs on the timing belt is greater than the length of a card. Since the mass of the timing belt is very low, the momentum generated by the velocity of the card is low, thereby causing the timing belt to come to rest very quickly after the driving force of the card has been removed from the timing belt. Hence, timing belt 49 is positively driven by the punched card being interrogated. Thus, data columns on the punched card are always synchronized with the timing belt regardless of changes in the velocity of the punched card. By utilizing such an arrangement, the probability of misreading a punched card is greatly reduced or eliminated.

After the punched card has been interrogated by the reading station, it is moved by the driving belts 47, 47' to the card stacker 15. During the movement of the punched cards by belts 47, 47, the timing belt is moved by the punched card. When the punched card is driven into the card stacker 15, it disengages from the timing belt and is collected under the influence of gravity in the card stacker. Since the timing belt 49 has three tabs 54 spacedly arranged along its length, it many be engaged readily by each successive card being read without unreasonable time delay.

In order to ensure that each punched card 11 is collected without card shutfiing, i.e., maintaining exactly the same relative position after being read as it was before being read, a card bowing means is provided for bending punched cards 11 about their longitudinal axis. As a result of this bending action, any curvature of the cards about their lateral axis is eliminated. More specifically, this bowing means comprises a pair of spaced cam surfaces 65 and '66 arranged at the downstream end of the card transport mechanism 13. Each cam surface, as shown in FIG. 7, comprises an inclined surface spaced apart from each other a distance less than the width of the punched cards, one on each side of the path of movement of the cards. The cam surfaces are arranged to engage the lateral edges of the punched cards as they pass from the card transport mechanism 13 to the card collector or stacker 15. As the punched cards are moved across the cam surfaces 65 and 66, they are distorted into U-shaped configurations as shown in FIG. 7 by the combined action of the inclined cam rigidifying surfaces 65 and 66 and the pinch roller 50 acting on the top of the moving cards. The cards are thereby bent or bowed along their longitudinal axes before passing into card stacker 15. Although the cam surfaces are formed from metal, they may be made from any suitable Wear resistant material such as plastics.

Card stacker as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 comprises a generally rectangular housing structure 68 having a base member and parallel side walls forming a vertical card receiving channel. This housing structure is provided with a throat or opening 69 in the upper portion thereof through which punched cards traveling from the transport mechanism 13 to the housing structure pass through in order to be collected within the housing structure. Extending laterally from one side of the housing structure 68 Within the path of movement of the cards is a supporting arm 70 on which is attached a resilient biasing means 71. This resilient biasing means 71 comprises a leaf spring attached at one end to the supporting arm 70. The other end of the leaf spring is arranged within the path of movement of the cards and is bent back upon itself so that its free end is away from the oncoming punched card. The leaf spring engages the punched cards on their upper surfaces as they pass it during their movement into the card stacker.

As each punched card 11 passes through the bowing means, it is bent about its longitudinal axis. While bent or bowed and under the influence of the bowing means, it engages the leaf spring of the resilient biasing means 71. Due to its added rigidity resulting from being bowed about its longitudinal axis, the punched card biases the leaf spring upwardly away from its normal position and loads the spring. As soon as the cards pass through the bowing means and become free from its bending influence, they lose their added rigidity and return to their normal plane configuration. At this time, the restoring force of the leaf spring of the biasing means 71 drives the cards in a downward direction. When this downward action occurs, the punched card is almost entirely Within housing 68 and the leaf spring engages only the latter or tail end portion of the punched card. By driving down the tail end of the punched card, the leaf spring ensures that the front portion of the next incoming card to the housing will be placed on top and not beneath the previously collected card. Thus, card shuttling is precluded.

The rectangular housing 68 forms a collecting chamber or channel for the punched cards 11 and generally conforms to but is slightly greater than the largest size of the data processing card to be collected. For easy access to and removal of the punched cards from the housing, the front wall of the housing is partially removed.

Projecting inwardly from opposite ends of the housing are a pair of rotatable gating means 72, 72' which effectively divide the housing into an upper and lower portion. This division aids in the satisfactory collection of the cards in the housing. Specifically, the gating means 72, 72 are pivotally mounted counterweights having inwardly projecting shelves 73, 73 on which data processing cards accumulate. As the data processing cards drop into housing 68, under the combined influence of gravity and the biasing effect of the leaf spring of biasing means 71, they fall downward into the upper portion of the housing and accumulate on the projecting shelves of gating means 72, 72'. After a predetermined number of these punched cards accumulate, which number is determined by the size of the counterweight used, the effect of the counterweight is overcome and the shelves rotate and the accumulated punched cards drop into the lower portion of the housing. So that the cards always fall from the same end each time, one of shelves 73, 73' is constructed shorter than the other.

Means are also provided for precluding an excessive amount of punched cards from accumulating in the housing. Specifically, this means comprises a lever arm or actuator 74 pivotally mounted at one end to a shaft 75 and arranged to extend across the upper portion of housing 68 transversely to the path of movement of the cards into the receptacle. More particularly, the actuator extends from the front end of housing 68 through a slot in the rear wall 76 thereof. Disposed on the rear wall 76 of the housing is a switching means 77 more clearly shown in FIG. 8 which is mounted directly above the actuator 74 and is actuated by it upon predetermined rotation of the actuator. Upon a predetermined accumulation of punched cards on shelves 73, 73', they are normally dumped into the lower portion of housing 68. Should the operator neglect to remove the accumulation of cards from the lower portion of the housing, it will fill with cards thereby obstructing the gating means 72, 72' and prohibiting it from rotating back to its supporting position. Additional punched cards then will continue to build up in the upper portion of the housing. When they build up under actuator 74 to a suflicient height, they force the actuator 74 to rise. Sufficient movement of the actuator 74 causes it to rotate counterclockwise about axis 75 and to engage the switching means 77 so that an alarm signal may be transmitted to the data processor. This signal may effect a shutdown of the card reader effective until the excessive accumulation of punched cards in housing 68 is removed.

While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in an illustrative embodiment, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials, and components, used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particular- 1y adapted for specific environments and operating requirements Without departing from those principles. The appended claim is therefore intended to cover and embrace any such modifications, within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A stacking device for cards or the like comprising a receptacle having a base member and parallel side walls forming a vertical card receiving channel; rigidifying means arranged adjacent said receptacle for rigidifying each card as it moves flatwise into said channel, said rigidifying means comprising a pair of cam surfaces parallelly arranged one on each side of the path of movement of said cards for engaging and bowing opposite longitudinal edges of said cards, advancing means disposed intermediate said cam surfaces for moving said cards into said channel, and a roller disposed above said advancing means and intermediate said cam surfaces to press said cards into engagement with said advancing means; deflecting means mounted within said receptacle for deflecting the trailing portion of said cards from their path of movement into said channel and out of the path of movement of the leading portion of the subsequent card fed into said receptacle, said deflecting means comprising a leaf spring mounted for engaging with the upper surface of each of said cards, said leaf spring being biased by the leading edge of each of said cards as they move into said channel; and a pair of counterweighted rotatable arms mounted within said receptacle on opposite sides of said channel for dividing said receptacle into an upper and lower portion, said arms providing a shelf for the accumulation of said cards and upon the accumulation of a predetermined number of cards rotating and dropping the cards into the lower portion of said receptacle, one of said arms being shorter than the other thereby causing the cards to always fall from the same card end.

References Cited UNITED 3,224,760 12/1965 Smith 271-68 3,137,499 6/1964 Maidment 271-71 FOREIGN PATENTS 789,015 1/1958 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES STATES PATENTS IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, F. L. Fertig, vol. 4,

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Kovatch 214-6 Trenner 271 68 10 RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Plzmary Exammer. Weidenhammer 271-71 US. Cl. X.R.

Califano 214 6 27186 

